Lots to do at 19th Century Curran Homestead at Newfield this week

Lots to do at 19th Century Curran Homestead at Newfield this week: NEWFIELD — Those who enjoy history — and perhaps a ride on an authentic 1894 carousel — can step back in time now through July 4 and again July 7 and 8, when 19th Century Curran Homestead at Newfield will be open to the public. Curran Homestead at Newfield is the new name for the entity that now owns the property that for more than 40 years was 19th Century Willowbrook Village. It became the official owner of the former Willowbrook property in January 2017. Curran Homestead is based in Orrington. A 1894 horse carousel that had once traveled communities in York and Cumberland counties from 1896 to 1922 will be available for rides to all visitors at: 11, 12, 1, and 2:30 p.m. each day. The 1894 Armitage Herschell carousel, was gifted to Willowbrook by Ivory Fenderson V of Saco and was originally purchased by his father, cabinet maker Ivory Fenderson IV. A Colonial militia — the York 2nd Regiment — encampment will be set up through July 2, said Director Robert Schmick. "There will be lots

Saturday, September 29, 2018, 10 AM-3PM, Harvest Festival at Fields Pond, Orrington

Saturday, September 29, 2018, 10 AM-3PM,  Harvest Festival at Fields Pond, Orrington

•  antique tractors and cars
• tractor pulled hay rides
• jitterbug/doodlebug collection
• jitterbug/doodlebug competition pull with Maine Antique Tractor Association 
• pumpkin painting
• Freshly Cut Grass Bluegrass Music
• Participatory Apple Cider Making
• Woodworking Activity For the Family: Make a Coat Rack with Handmade Wooden Pegs
• Homemade Halloween Costume Contest---Prizes
• Pickling on the Porch ( Make a Mason Jar of Pickles, sauerkraut, or Korean kimchi ---$12)
• Old Country Fair Games for Kids
• Food in the Farmhouse Kitchen For Sale: Corn Chowder, Irish Stew (with lamb) and Biscuits
• Admissions: $12 Adults, Children (Under 18): Free

Starting Tuesday, September 18, 6-9PM, Six Weeks of Beginning Blacksmithing Classes, Tuesdays and Thursday Evenings,

Starting Tuesday, September 18, 6-9PM, Six Weeks of Beginning Blacksmithing Classes, Tuesdays and Thursday Evenings, at 19th Century Curran Homestead Village, 372 Fields Pond Rd., Orrington, ME 04474. This beginner’s class covers all the basics of coal fired forging including safety, tools, materials, heating, cutting, bending, drifting, and forming steel objects. Start off with a small project and build on  knowledge projects that include tools for further work. Projects include hooks, a nail, spoon, fire poker with birdcage handle and more... Learn tempering and forge welding. Time permitting; students may forge a knife blade, if desired. This class includes Saturday morning studio for additional practice by arrangement. Cost: $395, tools and materials provided. Students required to supply their own 2lb. or more hammer. Registration is required and is first come, first serve by cash, check payable to "The Curran Homestead" or credit card (MasterCard & Visa only). Call: Robert Schmick, Museum Director at (207) 205-4849, email: rpschmick1@aol.com, or Irv Marsters, 745-4426, email: irv@bangorlettershop.com

These are the projects from a class in January of 2017.

Sat. & Sun., September 22 & 23, 9AM-4PM, Knife Making Class at Newfield

Saturday & Sunday, September 22 & 23, 9AM-4PM, Knife Making Class at Newfield

Knife Making Class at Curran Homestead Village at Newfield, 70 Elm St., Newfield, ME.  Instructor Frank Vivier assists you making your first knife and starting on the road to mastering this satisfying craft in a weekend. This is both an opportunity for beginners and intermediate level knife makers. Using propane fired forges, cut and shape a blade and tang from spring steel. Use a combination of hand files, grinders, and belt sanders. Quench harden using a coal fired forge and oven temper knives. Create hardwood handle scales with brass rivets. Epoxy and finish sand to satisfaction walking away with a nearly completed knife. Materials and tools provided. Tuition: $225. Pay to register, Discount for returning students. First come, first serve. Limited to 5. Call: (207) 205-4849, Visit: curranhomestead.org

This class has been given since 2013 at the Newfield museum and has evolved:

Formerly Willowbrook Museum's "Horse-stock Building", this smithy was used largely for a static exhibit. The horse-stock was removed crating a large space for other anvils and propane fired forges. This building is the site of our current knife making classes, although we have had smaller classes held in the Tom Flagg Smithy depicted below.

This smithy was actually moved from a farm in Lincolnville, Maine. It was constructed by 17 year old Tom Flagg in 1935. Flagg inherited many tools from previous generations as well as well as acquired many of his home. The collection of tools includes many hand-forged hammers, drifts, cuts, and tongs either made by Flagg or previous generations of his family. The anvil stand is Tom Flagg's own with am Fisher anvil donated by Paul Baresel of Buxton, ME. The smithy now contains a forge that tom Flagg made himself that uses a Champion forge blower. The second forge in the smithy came for the Estate of Lawrence Cook in Meriden, CT. Cook was a machinist who created Civil war artillery pieces sometimes from scratch as well as muzzle loaders and re-enacting accessories. The museum received many pieces of equipment from Cook's machine shop including pieces from the 1880s including drill presses, a horizontal milling machine, and an American Sawmill Co. band saw. In addition to the large Buffalo forge in the smithy there is a wall mounted drill press 

 

Saturday, September 22, 4:30-7PM, Painted Pony Party Fundraising Dinner with Bluegrass

Make Your Reservation Now for 19th Century Curran Homestead Village at Newfield’s September 22, 4:30-7PM, Painted Pony Fundraising Dinner with Freshly Cut Grass Bluegrass Band. Curran Homestead Village (formerly Willowbrook Museum ), 70 Elm Street, Newfield, ME. Dine at this museum’s rustic restaurant with live music, Maine’s own Freshly Cut Grass. One seating only at 4:30, dinner served at 5. The menu includes Mary’s own encrusted chicken cordon blue, glazed baby carrots, ribbons of zucchini, rolls with butter, scalloped potatoes, green salad, cranberry compote, corn chowder and apple crisp a la mode. Meal includes a pint of local Gneiss beer or glass of wine, or other beverage. Additional beer and wine for purchase, $5, $3. Reserve a free ride at 3 or 4PM on the horse carousel with your 4:30PM dinner reservation.  This is a fundraiser supporting our annual school field trip programming with more than 1600 from the Southern and Central Maine and New Hampshire area in May and June, 2018 and more to come this fall; help keep a 49 year tradition for area kids going. Single: $30, Couples $55. Call as soon as you can for your reservation: (207) 205-4849 or (207) 745-4426. We're a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit museum.

Knife Making Classes at Newfield, February 4 & 5/February 24 & 25, 2018

Feb. 24 & 25: Student Lunch

Feb. 3 & 4  Class: After the Quench

Eric Thoresen works on his hardwood handle.

Heating for the Quench; Frank Vivier watches over a student's knife.

Nick Armentrout of Lyman's knife in progress.

A little side lesson in forge welding on our coal fired forge.

Feb. 3 & 4 Knife Making Class. From left: Matt Day, Chad Nehrt, Eric Thoresen, Frank Vivier (instructor), Syndre Edwards, Heidi Edwards, Harold Gillman & Nick Armentrout

Chad Nehrt orf South Portland works at the belt sander on his newly forged knife.

February 3 & 4 Class, Student Knives

February 3 & 4 Class: Student Knives

February 24 & 25: File Work

Harold Gillman works on his first knife on day two after forging it on day one of the class.

Heidi Edwards took this knife making class with her seventeen year old daughter.

Frank Vivier instructor waits with student Eric Thoresen's blade to heat up for the quench. We use Wesson oil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 2018 Classes at Newfield Poster